March 27: DISD Board Meeting Live Blog
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Thu, 03/27/2008 - 08:23.
Top administrators have another year "grace period" to move into the District.
Ranger files complaint with Office of Professional Responsibility
It's 5:30 and the meeting is underway.
Looks like the first thing up is going to be Dallas Achieves. The Superintendent's report.
We're past the committee reports and it is on to the speakers on agenda items. The first speaker: Betty Culbreath Lister!
Betty is speaking about the residency policy. "Some people say ... is there a right to live where you want?" "Taxpayers pay for public education."
Betty is asking Hinojosa to not waive the residency requirements for the 9 officials who have requested to live other places than in DISD--as required by current policy.
"I'm asking you to respect the taxpayers of DISD."
Dale Kaiser is up. NEA Dallas. Also talking about the waivers to residency policy. This promises to be interesting--and here we thought this was going to be a short meeting!
"Haven't you been saying that a day of accountability is coming?"
5:50P - Speakers concluded
The approval of the controversial vote to allow administrator will be discussed by the Board later.
But right now, let's take a break from the exciting stuff and debate whether approval of the minutes from the last meeting should be included on the "consent agenda" or not.
Carla Ranger expressed concern and asked that minutes be pulled for separate vote as opposed to being in the "consent agenda."
So what is the consent agenda? What are minutes?
Simple. The minutes are the record of the last meeting.
The consent agenda reflects things that the board agrees on without any further discussion. These are usually things that were hammered out in the board briefing or would be intuitively non-controversial. Like changing the brand of toilet paper in the restrooms.
Wait. Strike that. Let me see if I can think of another example that might be less controversial. But we digress.
But the minutes got approved anyway.
6:12 - The main event! The Board is discussing whether or not the District's leaders should be required to abide by Board policy and live in the District.
Lew Blackburn is up first. "When I was a kid [...] I saw my teachers [...] in the neighborhood." "As a kid, it meant alot to me that they lived nearby." "If you [administrators] live amongst us, then you thrive or suffer with us."
"Part of caring about us is that you don't mind being seen with us." "We've had people who came to the District knowing about this policy and came to the District with this understanding."
"When you come back later and say 'I know I said that when I signed my name to it' [...] can I not be seen in the same Walmart with you [...] I'll take your money [...] but I do not want to live amongst you."
Blackburn asked what kind of commitment this shows from top administrators. He called into question whether it was appropriate for top administrators to receive tax money (paychecks) from DISD and pay that tax money back to another ISD.
"Show us how strong you believe in DISD."
"We have too many waivers to our policies. This is one that I'm strongly against."
Carla Ranger is up.
Ranger pointed out that the Superintendent "shall ensure that all administrative employees shall adhere to this policy [...] and not undermine this policy."
Ranger also pointed out that the whole group of 11 employees came in at the same time. She urged each waiver to be considered individually as opposed to the whole group.
She turned it into a motion. There was no second.
"This group waiver attempts to predetermine an outcome."
Our question is: why have a policy if it isn't going to be enforced? Whether or not the policy is valid, if it is a policy, why not adhere to it--or strike the policy down altogether?
Will someone on the board "step up" and propose it? Or will the board take the "toothless" route on some policies in the District?
Ron Price: "I do not support [financing another school district with our tax dollars]." "We give you options--you don't have to live in Dallas, but you have to live in the District."
Price pointed out that people have moved to DISD all the way from Pennsylvania. "I think we can ask some people to move 2 blocks."
Price proposed amending the waiver from allowing the administrators a year to move it to 6 months.
Blackburn pointed out that there are a bunch of folks who have said they would move in to the District if the waiver fails.
Again, we ask: why have a policy in the first place? Would it be better to uphold it or vote it down (if you don't like it) than to waive it?
Jack Lowe pointed out that 4 out of 5 of the "comparison" districts doesn't have this policy. So our question still stands: why doesn't someone propose eliminating the policy as opposed to waiving it? Jack?
The 6-month amendment failed.
The motion itself passes 5-4. Top administrators have another year to move into the District!
6:44 - On to speakers for non-agenda items.
First speaker may be on to the Garza-Ranger issue. Saying it is wrong for "this board member" to smirk or roll his eyes when Ranger talks. Calling him a "child" and suggesting that someone run against him in his next election.
Another speaker asking that "this board member" be censured to try and get someone to run against a sitting board member.
Popular topic tonight.
6:52 - It's on to the individual board member reports. Jack Lowe asked Adam Medrano to take the helm. "I'm not going to leave without telling you where I'm going... I'm going to the men's room!"
There was applause and laughter! Great dig by Jack! One of my colleagues (and I'm not naming names) suggested we get a picture! We'll time him...
Leigh Ann Ellis talked about an ROTC group from North Dallas that was soliciting funds for a competition to Texas A&M. "They were thinking outside the box" by heading over to another part of the city.
Ellis helped raise money to go to A&M. "I don't know how they did... they never called me back!"
Everybody: give money to the ROTC program at your school.
6:56 - Jack's back!
7:03 - Ranger reports that she has filed a complaint with the Office of Professional Responsibility regarding Garza's actions. She referred to "an employee" but we don't have any details yet. We'll try to get a copy of it and post it.
Price pointed out that more parents, and people in Dallas need to attend sporting events throughout the District and especially District 9. Price pointed out that it can be frustrating when some kids show up for an event and there are 10 people in the stands. Good point.
Firing Teachers
The last board meeting involved the termination and non-renewal of contracts for teachers. While reading the recommendations, I couldn't help but notice that each had the same reason. This incredibly generic reason shows nothing about what a teacher is like in the classroom. Teachers are told that the board will "review" the information that leads to their termination or non-renewal but if this is all they are given, how can this be true. I know of several teachers, great teachers, who have been in this situation. Sure, they can file a grievance and fight to protect thier name and reputation but will that be rubber stamped as well? It amazes me how teachers recommended for termination or non-renewal in this district were begged by other districts not to leave or how these same teachers who are now "Below Expectations" were once viewed as "Exceeding Expectations". It is no surprise to me that the board is unaware much of the harassment teachers receive not only by students but by their principals. I would venture to say that for every one grievance they see, there are at least twenty-five who just didn't have the energy to fight anymore after being beaten down by their superiors. I would encourage the Board to look into these matters. Do we send students to AEP without hearing from them? Do we expell a student without finding out the reason they made the choices they did? What are we modeling for our children? If a principal doesn't like you, you are gone? If a teacher doesn't like you, forget about passing that class.
School Board Members, don't just rubberstamp these things, you have the lives and passions of people in your hands. Research, go to the schools, talk to the teachers as well as the principals. LISTEN!!!!
Teacher terminations
The teachers at our high school who were told their contracts would be terminated were told it was TEA that was recommending the termination because of low test scores/CEIs.
A recent phone caller to TEA was told that the DISD was reconstituting the schools in question not TEA and it was the DISD who had recommended their termination.
These teachers have also been told verbally that they cannot teach in the field of their core certification in the DISD ever again. (though we can teach in the DISD in another certification or we can teach our core certification in another district.)
If they are truly such terrible teachers and responsible for low student test scores why would they be allowed to teach anywhere at all?Unless this round of terminations is simply a dog and pony show for the benefit of the taxpayers. (See... we got rid of the teachers who did this! Aren't we great administrators?)
The general feeling among the teachers I talk to is that we are easy scapegoats for the issues that are too complex to fix cheaply... low parent participation, teen pregnancy, drug use, apathy, criminal behavior and a generation that expects reward for simply showing up
Teachers Being Dismissed
It is sad how teachers are dis-missed from their jobs. Upper management really needs to take a closer look the the problem of why so many teachers are being fired.
What I am so surprise about is how principals can get away with so much in the school district. Principals canchange offical documents to make the school look good on paper get caught but nothing happens. It seems as if the upper management supports the wrong doing of their principals.
At the school I teach at the FBI, DA, SBEC, and DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION should come in investigate the school. They would find a lot of wrong doing, false records, cheating, stealing, etc.
The School District really needs to clear house of bad principals and stop protecting them from wrong doing.
Start with Roosevelt High School Principals
Sounds Familiar
Funny; until I got to the last line, I was sure this person was talking about Spruce.
School as part of the community
I think the school board is moving in the right direction because, although the School Board is about DISD schools, the bigger and more serious issue is old Dallas neighborhoods. This is an opportunity now for all governing entities in Dallas to build and reinvigorate old Dallas neighborhoods, north, south, east and west (although, obviously the south has been forgotten and truly has the greater need).
The older housing market is pretty big here and Dalllas cannot ignore this any more. Thirty years is long enough to have ignored the core neighborhoods of Dallas! The new housing market and new neighborhoods will level off and now the foreclosures, the old diplated that need to be torn down, the empty and abandoned that do not pay taxes, the long term elderly owner that has died, the corporate transfers, etc. in the old housing market will be the market for Dallas. This means paying attention to crime, code stuff, schools, jobs, shopping strips, letting people in - not keeping them out, etc. Other cities are coming up with plans and incentives to make it work.
Perhaps a shift of focus to communitites(SCHOOLS ARE A PART OF THIS)instead of the quick flip of the house and get rich quick mentality (that has a history here) might work better for Dallas.
Why have rules at all in DISD?
Well, tonight's meeting continues to show the public that the board is made up of a gang of 5 who are of the "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.
Dale Kaiser got it right: How hypocritical of them to go after teachers for violating rules, when they can just "waive" them for the top few!
And they wonder why we won't vote for the bond issue? READ THIS GARZA, FLORES, MEDRANO, ELLIS, BINGHAM AND LOWE----BECAUSE WE CANNOT TRUST YOU OR THE TOP LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP IN DISD.
This Gang of 5 (sometimes 7) swallow more than a ---well, I can't go there. Anyway, wait until some of them come up for election in the coming year or two. All their votes will be publicized in time for someone to oppose them. (too late for this election, sadly)
They consistently vote against the interests of teachers. They ignore increased vocal public demands. They don't question the obvious during briefings: What part of "LIVE IN DISD" did the person NOT understand when they moved here?
It is one thing to have a house in Garland and then get hired. It is another to KNOWINGLY COME from THE USAF OR FROM PENNSYLVANIA. They knew they would be working for DISD. They CHOSE to buy somewhere else.
You know what? FIRE THEM. Let 'em go. They won't be here after the Spring of 2011 anyway---wanna bet? After we buy-- I mean WIN the Broad Prize, they are all off to other districts or the lecture circuit. (Wanna bet, Allen?) Meanwhile, the teachers will still be here. The kids will still be here.
And so will the problems.
[Ed Note: You are probably right on some of this. However, I don't think this is an "election issue" as you do. There are some people who voted for the waiver because they think the policy is bad--and needs to be rescinded. Regardless of agreement or disagreement, there is validity to this point-of-view.
Again, I propose, why not tie residency to bonuses--or benefits?]
Dallas ISD Residency
With a close vote, top administrators get to live in another school district. We'll see if those who were committed to move had we not approved the waiver actually move. I still believe residency shows a strong commitment to the Dallas ISD communities. What are your thoughts?
Lew Blackburn, Trustee, District 5
DISD Residency
Oddly enough, I received a call from a new client yesterday stating they were moving to administration and needed to move into the DISD boundaries. Why is it that some receive waivers and some don't? I would assume it's just plain black and white. Administration - Live in the DISD or no job.
Residency
It's been a month since my last comments and here we are again. I must say I am impressed that you would stand up to the majority of the board on this issue.
Residency is outdated and not necessary. All you are doing is restricting the school district to people who are willing to move. I know people in the district who are qualified and would do a great job on that level, however they don't want to move to DISD. Not because they don't want to support the kids or the district but it is a huge commitment to move your kids and family over a job.
I do agree with Allen that instead of granting waivers and such, someone have the guts to just propose removing the policy all together. (yes I know you voted against it, but you sit in the board briefings and have heard the others feelings).
Waived Employee Running Bond
One of the administrators who just got waived is supposed to run the bond issue. How about the bond gets waived until he moves into the district? If he is willing to violate policy regarding residency, why should voters trust his decisions on bond money?
Please Post Names
Please post how the members voted. We need names for future elections.
[Ed Note: We'll follow up after the meeting.]
Dallas ISD Board Meeting
Welcome to the Dallas ISD board of trustees meeting. If you have any suggestions for improving the Dallas ISD, please let us know.
[Ed Note: Thank you, Dr. Blackburn. We will do our best to get the comments up as they come in tonight.]
Dallas ISD Board Meeting
Lew,
Your question regarding what can we do to improve the DISD? I am just a parent and taxpayer of 3 children in the DISD. I believe there are many good things the DISD is doing. I see it everyday in the work my children do and the teachers who remain dedicated 'to the kids.' That being said, trim back the needless waste on Ross Avenue, give principals/teachers back the power to teach/run a school, promote/hire principals because of their ability and credentials rather than because who they know, allow principals to remove ineffective teachers, listen to the parents. So many parents will not raise their concerns or voices because they are met with deaf ears. So many shake their heads in agreement, yet nothing is ever addressed. I know your position as trustee is a volunteer position and I appreciate and respect all the time and efforts each one of you give. Like you, I volunteer in numerous capacities, yet when I receive a call or email from an individual paying for a service I volunteer for, I make sure they hear from me and I address their concern immediately. You have to respond to many more than I do, but it would be a nice change to have someone act like they care what we as parents are saying. My trustee has never been to our PTA meetings because if he had I am sure many parents would have both given him praise and recommendations. Sadly though, many of us believe it would be wasted breath to deaf ears. Thank you for what you do for your area.
Vote No on Residency Waivers
Improve DISD by voting No on residency waivers, Dr. Blackburn.
Dallas ISD Residency
I voted against the policy waiver, and will do the same next year. We'll see how many are on the list then. Hopefully, my colleagues will stand strong, and vote against the waiver then.
Lew Blackburn, Dallas ISD Trustee, District 5
[Ed Note: Do you have a list of who voted for it?]
I CAN'T WAIT!! VOTE
I CAN'T WAIT!!
VOTE NO!!!
VOTE NO!!!!
VOTE NO!!!!!
[Ed Note: Maybe I should ask (1) vote "no" on what? Then follow it up by saying "oh, they don't vote on that here" :) ]
Garza-Ranger
Any comment or update on the Garza-Ranger flap?
[Ed Note: I don't think you'll see any personality issues brought up tonight.]
Comment
Personality issue? Maybe this is one case where a personality issue digressed into a character or lack of character issue. I understand things like that happen all the time in politics but honesty works best all the time, agree?
[Ed Note: This could be a blog issue for discussion--all by itself! By the way, I love the posting name!]
Comment
That would be an excellent idea. As for fuzzbuster, my wife does not like it so I'll take steps to change it to my birth name next week. :(
PS: I appreciate the time you take to do what you do for the public.
[Ed Note: Point of trivia: Does anyone know what a "fuzzbuster" was?]
Trivia Answer
As a first time reader of your blog, I really appreciate that you have a forum to vent on things near and dear to my heart, especially DISD. As a parent of public school students in DISD, a taxpayer, and a concerned activist, I have enjoyed the experience.
First - In my early driving days a 'fuzzbuster' was a radar detector that was usually permanently installed on or under the dashboard. Long before we had those little, easily concealable, flat cd-player-looking, powered by the car lighter devices that we have now, they were one of my first experiences of a way to use my constitutional rights against my own govt. Since airwaves are (at least they WERE) free, the govt couldn't limit the signals that the fuzzbuster sent out and received. I don't think that the current "Macarthy-esque" society will allow that much longer, but as a strict constitutionalist I will continue defending to the death the right to say things that I do NOT necessarily agree with. (Sorry, bad grammar.) This leads to my second thing.
Second - A friend told me about this site today and I have to tell you that I was very interested in reading it tonight. I jumped around and I found several posts about my neighborhood schools and the school board meetings. I happen to agree with you that without actual facts or charges, the ones who complain about principals, staff and teachers cannot be taken seriously. I really mean that they cannot expect redress from our government [an individual right guaranteed by the First Amendment] unless they are willing to speak out at least as a "confidential source" to an entitly that can shed light on the topic or controversy. I do appreciate that you are trying to ferret out someone who is not afraid to speak on record on these issues. I also saw the Alliance/AFT President, Amiee Bolender's post and I wonder that she didn't post info she has on one of those controversies. Maybe she needs her affected members' permission to let us in on what she knows, but I would be interested in hearing from someone who doesn't have to answer to, therefore cannot be fired or retaliated against by an administrator.
Third - I may be mistaken but the educators I have spoken to throughout the state (since I was a kid in DISD) told me that any school district employee could be sanctioned up to and including contract terministion for 'speaking their mind' publically and let me tell you that if that is true, then where are the fighters like Ann Richards who were both politically active and educators? Is this why teachers cannot strike in Texas? Is this because they have been told that they are 'State employees' and therefore prohibited like Police officers from having 'blue flu'? I believe the reasoning behind that is that in each district there is but one spokesperson. Do you think that in our No Child Left Behind, Patriot-Act loving society that anyone who utilized their constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech could still get away with keeping their job? Especially in an 'AT-WILL' state?
As badly as I would be interested in hearing about some of the things that affect my area schools, especially safety issues, I sadly believe that no one is willing to fall on the sword for helping educate the rest of us.
Good luck and keep up the good fight.
Comment
Pretty bad when a trustee calls a district employee a backstabber. If you’re the district employee who was called a backstabber, that sets up concerns of retaliation. No Bueno.
Ranger's Complaint from DMN
Got this from the DMN-Dallas ISD Blog. Don't know if it is appropriate to post it in this manner. Your call.
Ranger asks OPR to investigate Garza
3:11 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
Kent Fischer E-mail News tips
Trustee Carla Ranger has asked the district's Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate whether Jerome Garza broke any rules when he tried to drum up a candidate to run against her in May's trustee elections.
I have to ask: Is there such a thing as "Conduct Unbecoming a Trustee"?
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:39:23 -0500
From: "Carla Ranger"
To: DonaldRSmith@dallasisd.org
Subject: Employee Rafael Rodriguez - Trustee Jerome Garza Abuse - Whistleblower Protection
CC: OPR@dallasisd.org, Jack.lowe@xxx.com, hinojosam@dallasisd.org, JElrod@dallasisd.org, fmatthews@dallasisd.org, Proctor@dallasisd.org, DMICHEAUX@dallasisd.org, tdhobbs@dallasnews.com, gehrigs302@xxx.net
To: Don R. Smith, Jr. - Executive Director - Office of Professional
Responsibility
From: Carla Ranger - District 6 Trustee
Subject: Complaint and Request for Whistleblower Protection - Rafael
Rodriguez
This referral is submitted as an official complaint and request for an investigation of the recent actions of Trustee Jerome Garza in soliciting an employee of the Dallas ISD - Rafael Rodriguez - North Dallas High School Community Liason and Dallas Achieves Commission member - to enter the Spring 2008 school board election race against Trustee Carla Ranger - District 6.
'Whistblower' protection is requested for employee Rafael Rodriguez who was both placed in an awkward and intimidating position by Trustee Jerome Garza and accused by Trustee Garza of "backstabbing" for speaking honestly about Trustee Garza's attempt to use Mr. Rodriguez for a political and racially divisive agenda.
I am especially concerned about potential reprisals against Mr. Rodriquez as an emplyee of Dallas ISD for his 'Whistleblower' admission of Trustee Garza's inappropriate effort to encourage and engage him (an employee) in political action against a fellow Trustee, as well as Trustee Garza's inappropriate effort to intimidate Mr. Rodriguez after this matter became public.
Please consider:
Violation of Board Ethics - Undue Influence - Conduct Unbecoming a Trustee - Intimidation of an Employee - Potential Reprisal against an Employee - Violation of Trustee Code of Conduct or any other unethical and inappropriate behavior and issues raised by your investigation of this matter.
Potential Witnesses - Rafael Rodriguez, Gehrig Saldana, Tawnell Hobbs (Dallas Morning News), Jack Lowe (Board President), Ramiro Lopez, Hollis Brashear (former Trustee), Michael Hinojosa, Jesse Diaz, Carla Ranger
I would appreciate your early consideration.
Please keep me advised in whatever manner you deem appropriate.
Awaiting your reply,
Carla Ranger - District 6 Trustee
[Ed Note: Completely appropriate. They had it first.
Fuzzbuster:
Fuzzbuster: http://www.epromos.com/product/2310003.html
It's also a radar detector.
[Ed Note: Very good! It was the first radar detector by Cincinnati Microwave if memory serves correctly.]
Thank you Lew Blackburn
for trying to get DISD administrators who take OUR tax money to live where we live. Are we not important enough for you waiver-wanters?
I am starting a family, and will stay in Oak Cliff. Right now, I can't honestly say that my future kids will attend DISD because it doesn't seem like people care. I don't want to pay property tax AND pay for private school, but what choice are they giving me?
Waiver Vote
The vote in favor of the waiver until July 1, 2009 was as follows.
Voting FOR (5): Ellis, Bingham, Medrano, Lowe and Flores
Voting AGAINST (4): Price, Blackburn, Garza and Ranger
Can you believe Garza voted with Ranger?!! What's up with that and Medrano who is up for re-election makes the mistake of voting for this. He did state however that he won't vote for any waiver next time. Young man, you better hope you stick around for a next time....
[Ed Note: Yes, the only problem I have with this is: why have a policy at all if we're going to vote for massive waivers? It needs to be debated and struck down, or else it needs to be upheld.
In fairness, there is an argument that: "yes, it needs to be struck down but no, we don't have the votes to do it yet." DISD is the only comparably-sized district to have this policy.
Perhaps a good compromise might be to tie a bonus to living in the District--and another for sending your kids to DISD schools?]
I don't care where they live
Where someone lives has nothing to do with their competency. Leslie Williams lives in DISD and even lived in the Skyline neighborhood and you see how much good that did. Though I don't necessarily agree with the residency rule, I don't like having rules we don't enforce. Lead by example.